Data: 305 unaccompanied immigrant kids arrive in Illinois in '14

CHICAGO — New federal data show Illinois received 305 unaccompanied children caught at the U.S. border this year.

The Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families released a state-by-state list on Thursday showing the total released to sponsors from January 1 to July 7.

Texas received the most children with 4,280. The other leading states are New York, Florida and California. Illinois' 305 was the ranked 18th in the country.

The U.S. has been grappling with a surge in the number of unaccompanied children arriving on the border from Central America fleeing violence. Many believe they'll be allowed to stay in the U.S.

Children are placed in government shelters and then released to sponsors while they go through deportation proceedings. In many cases, the sponsors are the children's parents, other relatives, or a family friend.